Reviews by Mark Bowley

With half of 2025 done and dusted, this seems like the perfect opportunity to look at what the rest of the year has in store for us when it comes to providers and their new releases. Slots players get giddy at the mere mention of new slots. To make life simple, the review team at Hideous Slots has dived into their bag of tricks to see what’s up with some of the best slots we’ll see over the summer of 2025! Don’t make plans or book any holidays just yet (just kidding, you can play on your mobile). Game providers like ELK Studios, Nolimit City, Pragmatic Play, and others are lining up to bombard sites with new releases. The team has compiled five online slots that are destined to make a huge impact among UK players in the coming months. What are they? Well, find out in this blog and learn more about these exciting titles.

Like it or not, slots and mobile gaming are now a huge part of the entertainment world. However, it’s slots specifically that offer players the unique thrill of easy-to-play games combined with the potential of prizes and big wins. The beauty of playing on mobile is that it doesn’t matter if a player is waiting in line at the local bakery, slumming it on the couch on a rainy afternoon, or stuck on the bus or tube. There are thousands of top slot games a touch of the screen away. Any slots player with a mobile has a gateway to a world of thrills and spills, and it only takes a moment to load the best slots and play. Check out our list of the five best slots players can spin on while on the go below.

As any player will tell you, the world of casinos is exciting and fast-paced. However, choosing the wrong casino can result in harm to not only your bank balance, but your trust in the industry as a whole. For this reason, players should be extra vigilant when selecting a casino to play at. Although the majority of casinos online are regulated and managed properly, there are some that have distinct red flags – and now our experts are sharing some of the most common ones with you. Let’s cover our top 3 red flags that a player should always look for – and in turn, always avoid.

Casinos are exciting places that offer players a rollercoaster ride of bright lights, the sound of tumbling coins, and the hopes of big wins. Be it Las Vegas or a local casino, all casinos should offer players a complete experience. Players should be entertained and feel that they are welcome, in a setting that makes them comfortable and projects a sense of fairness to all who play there. However, this isn’t always the case. Some casinos may be known for poor customer service, whilst others may have a reputation for not offering value to players. Before playing at any casino, check for the following signs that show a casino may not be worth it.

Like cinema, slots can entertain and thrill. Both give us interesting storylines, memorable characters, multiple genres, and we never know what going to happen next! Arguably, movies and slots have many elements in common. So, it’s only logical that both would cross over and give us popular slots based on our favourite movies. Movie-themed slot machines have become increasingly popular over the last decade or so, and providers and game studios are always on the lookout for the next big thing when it comes to adapting the latest blockbuster for the reels. The reason that online slots based on movies are so popular and work on all levels is that the association with the movies adds an extra layer to the player experience. The chosen slot becomes a cinematic spectacle that the player can relate to. Seeing their heroes on the reels can be akin to having posters on your bedroom wall – this is probably why we all can relate to this type of online slot. There are lots of these slots to choose from, and in this Hideous Slots blog, we’ve hand-picked 5 of the most legendary blockbuster movie slot games that still attract players today.

If you’re a regular player on slots, it can be tough to understand all of the symbols out there. When playing on the casino floor or visiting your favourite online casino, you can’t help but take a moment to stop and admire the symbols of each slot. Slot symbols are often colourful and flamboyant and can make or break a slot. But have you ever taken the time to stop and ask what these symbols mean? Don’t worry, help is at hand in this three-minute breakdown! This simple guide will cover all the famous slot symbols.

DEGEN Studios is the new kid on the block, launched in 2025 – and they’re not here to play it safe.

As an independent games studio built by industry veterans, they’re all about pushing the boundaries on what can be done with slots, with highly volatile gameplay and provocative themes at the heart of their player experience. 

One of the most difficult feats to achieve for a game studio is the perfect sequel, but that doesn’t stop studios across the industry from trying each year. Whether they introduce minimal changes and aim for familiarity or turn things completely on their head for their second time around, players are always excited to see what’s may come next from their favourite titles. This year, Big Time Gaming are tackling sequels in a big way, revisiting three of their most popular releases for a fresh take – Star Clusters, Castle of Terror, and the iconic White Rabbit. We sat down with Big Time Gaming’s visionary leader, Nik Robinson, to learn more about the studio’s approach to sequel slots and what its blueprint for chart-topping games looks like.

Alchemy Gaming is an independent game development studio with mathematics at its core. With a varied collective of professionals that have just the right mix of passion, experience, and expertise, this team understands the games they create and the players that enjoy them. Working exclusively with Games Global, this team balance unique mechanics with polished audiovisuals, creating experiences they can be proud of – like their X UP series. With more than 9 titles in this series so far, including Sparkling Joker X UP and Chronicles of Olympus X UP, the core mechanic has proved to be incredibly popular with a variety of players. We sat down with Marcus Thorpe-Fairall, Creative Director at Alchemy Gaming, to ask him some questions about their journey and this series. With more than two decades of experience, Marcus has seen the evolution of slot gaming from multiple angles, so we were itching to pick his brain.

Looking back on the development of slots, there are a few moments where everything changed. Big Time Gaming gave us one of these moments when they introduced the innovative Megaways mechanic.

When Megaways slots first appeared, it redefined what players wanted from a slot. With its dynamic reel setup, Megaways lets players access up to 117,649 ways to win. It also deploys a random reel modifier rather than a set of paylines.

The modifier alters the number of symbols on each reel with every spin. All this combines to add to the excitement and the potential. There are many top Megaways slots to choose from. This blog will highlight 5 must-try Megaways slots that all players should know.

Online slots have their roots in early slot machines, reaching back over nearly a century. From humble mechanical slots to the flamboyant releases of today, we’ve come a long way. Still, it’s important that we don’t forget where things started – with the classic online slots that promised players innovation and rewards. These classic slots may feel outdated nowadays, but most of them hold strong nostalgia for players, meaning they’re often revisited, remaining popular even today. Let’s take a look at six of our favourites.

Players who are new to the world of slots will find an exciting journey awaits, but it can be a bit overwhelming. With an untold number of online slots to choose from, endless promotions found at each site, and new payment methods turning up all the time, it’s no wonder that new players can feel confused. This isn’t a unique experience – in fact, there are a number of mistakes that most new players make, or think. Let’s take a look at the most common examples, and clear up any misunderstandings once and for all.

This week at Hideous Slots, we had a real clash of the titans – I managed to round up two of our most talented writers, Aisley and Jade, for a quick Q&A session. I asked them questions about life, love, and the future. Pffft… just joking, we spoke about slots, slots and more slots! We wanted to give our beloved community of players a quick insight into how our reviewers tackle writing about their favourite slots. We’re finding out how these two rate online slots, how they hone their process, what each writer looks for, whether they have ever misjudged a new release, and what their guilty pleasures are when it comes to features.

Nothing fires up the reels better than triggering a free spin bonus – where anticipation, exciting gameplay, and the potential of big rewards collide. As a new player, opting into a free spins bonus can help add to your bankroll, unlock exciting features, and most importantly, entertain you. Whilst free spins are usually exciting, it can feel much more rewarding and engaging when you can use your spins on certain games. We’re going to take you through the best games for your free spins bonuses – from the titles that are most common and popular, to those that are rarer, but exciting nonetheless.

The slots industry has become a global force that is here to stay – this gaming juggernaut has captured the imagination of players with innovative mechanics, fun gameplay, engrossing themes, and an ever-expanding player base. Moving forward, the only logical question to ask at this point is where will the industry take us next? Some trends are emerging within the industry that could impact game providers, operators, and players, which has us wondering if 2026 is going to be a defining year for gambling. With the steady growth of AI, VR, and other elements such as mobile-first gaming, the industry will see big changes, and these will come thick and fast. We’ve grabbed our crystal ball to make big predictions for the slot industry in 2026, and we’re sharing them with you.

As a slots fan, one of the most exciting bonuses you can claim is a free spins offer – guaranteed to add some extra fun to your experience. These are a staple of most online casinos’ promotions, promising players spins on the most popular slot games for a small upfront cost, or sometimes no cost at all. However, it’s crucial that players approach with caution, and always look out for the signs that these offers may not be as generous as they first seem. Let’s take a look at three common free spins scams that players are likely to come across, and find out which bonuses are worth the hype, and which you should avoid.

In the competitive and ever-evolving casino industry, there’s a handful of game providers that stand head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to winning potential. These studios don’t just create games with cute graphics and nice payouts, they produce releases that can award life changing wins to players across the globe. Usually, these payouts go hand in hand with extremely volatile maths models, meaning these titles are capable of making you scream for all the right or all the wrong reasons. Our experts have whittled down four studios with the biggest potential on the markets into this handy list, so if you’re looking for some game inspiration and chasing those huge wins, look no further.

As July begins, players can expect a month filled with new slots chock-a-block with big payouts and highly volatile maths models. Over the next few weeks, players will be treated to a variety of new online slots to sample during those long summer evenings, each with unique features but all with one thing in common – their winning potential. One thing players will be eager to know is which of these new titles are going to have bigger payouts than the rest, especially if the rest of their defining features are as enticing. Well, we’re here to answer. This short list is your personal guide to the top 5 highest-paying slots releasing in July 2025.

It’s always good news for players when rumours start floating about a sequel to their favourite online slot. This year, the PearFiction Studios team become the latest group to revisit their past and bring us another helping of a popular title, with Squealin’ Riches 2. Packed full of features and offering jackpot prizes, this upcoming release promises an abundance of features and an impressive maximum win. We sat down with Hayden Zwart, Creative Director at PearFiction Studios, to ask him about this eagerly anticipated game, its features and mechanics, creative freedoms, and what’s next.

There are countless studios releasing a huge number of games per year, giving players more choices than we’ve ever had before. One example of this is Wizard Games; the studio behind titles such as Wynmor’s Tales, Surtr’s Fury and Catchin’ Fortunes. Promising to combine time-tested recipes with innovative ideas, Wizard Games have scores of games in their catalogue, covering a variety of themes and mechanics to suit every player. We sat down with Mattias Nilsson, Director of Games Studio at Wizard Games, to chat to him some more about their latest releases, and what is next for this studio.

We’re celebrating a huge leap for DreamSpin as their debut release Buzz Thrill hits our screens. Releasing as a Sky Vegas exclusive, Buzz Thrill hits the market on 26th September for the first time, marking a milestone in this studio’s journey. Buzz Thrill is DreamSpin’s first release, and the studio is the first to be founded by slot streamers. Hideous Slots’ Will Barnes and Fruity Slots’ Josh Green and Jamie Rosen founded DreamSpin with the belief that they could use their extensive experience and valuable insights as streamers and enthusiasts to create games that players wanted. Their deep understanding of the gaming community and their passion for it has driven the development of Buzz Thrill. Buzz Thrill was crafted with communities like Hideous Slots and Fruity Slots in mind, and this is just the beginning for this team – they’re committed to creating games that always put players first, with plenty more on the horizon.

Relax Gaming’s release Ancient Tumble is highly regarded as one of the best in the series so far, and perhaps even one of their most popular games to date. With core elements of past games and the inclusion of modern popular features, Ancient Tumble stands out as a feature-rich slot with undeniable appeal. 

Print Studios have rapidly evolved from a lesser-known developer to a standout name; first coming onto the scene with Book of Destiny, which subtly but effectively stood out with its differences from the regular ‘book-game’ format. Since then, Print Studios have marched onwards with a steadfast determination to stick by their ambition and make gambling more fun than it ever was. Each project they work on is ambitious, and their determination to make a difference is unshakeable. One particularly interesting element of some of Print Studios’ releases is the element of gamification in releases like Reapers, Cash Defense and Eldritch Dungeon. Gamification aims to incorporate game design elements – or video game-like features – into the world of slots. Gamification is something rarely attempted, and difficult to pull off, as we’re sure Print Studios would agree. We had the pleasure of talking to Carl Wiggman, CEO of Print Studios, to find out the inspiration behind some of these titles and why gamification is so interesting to them.

Continuing their legendary world tour, and with the thunder of Olympus echoing on the horizon, we sat down with Marcin Tomala, Senior Game Designer at Yggdrasil Gaming to discuss the long-awaited sequel Vikings Go To Olympus. With the Vikings heading on yet another adventure, we’re keen to understand the long-lasting appeal of the Norse-inspired player favourite series. Here we explore the innovative mechanics awaiting fans in Vikings Go To Olympus and dive into how the team consistently injects fresh energy into this beloved saga.

Barcelona-based slot game studio Amigo Gaming is globally renowned for providing players with not only the highest quality products, but titles boasting fresh and captivating features along with audience values close in mind. With a rich catalogue of both mobile-enhanced and desktop options already at the team’s disposal, that list continues to rapidly expand with a whole host of new exciting and diverse titles soon to hit our screens. The latest game, Thunder and Love, offers a pop-culture take on Greek mythology, two themes very popular within the gaming industry, and we’ve taken the time to chat with Amigo Gaming’s Head Of Marketing, Rodrigo Curi, to find out all of the inspiration and insights behind the team’s latest creation.

We sat down with Andre Villandberg, CEO of Bullshark Games to talk about their latest release, Age of Seth. Known for their bold storytelling and immersive design, Bullshark’s newest title dives deep into myth, mystery, and strategic gameplay. Andre gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, the challenges of development, and what players can expect as they step into the ancient world of Age of Seth.